Toy gun having electromagnetic radiation means



J. o. FOSTER 3,426,475 TOY GUN HAVING ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION MEANSFeb. 11. 1969 Filed Aug. 17. 1966 T. V. RECEIVER l i l l 6 Claims Int.Cl. A63h 33/26; Hb 41/14 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A toy gun whichincorporates an electric buzzer, a battery, and an antenna. When atrigger is pressed, the buzzer and antenna transmit electromagneticwaves, receivable by a television receiver and producing an effect ordisturbance on the receiver screen.

This invention relates to toy guns.

My invention comprises a toy gun which includes a trigger and iscontrolled thereby to radiate electromagnetic waves of a frequencysuitable for television reception. More specifically, it includes anoscillator in the form of a conventional electric buzzer, a battery, anda transmitting system including an antenna. All these elements exceptthe antenna may be more or less concealed within the body of the gun ifdesired.

The toy gun will be used in conjunction with the viewing of a televisionprogram. Thus, the viewer can aim at the villain on the screen and willthen press the trigger. The radiation will be intercepted by thetelevision receiver antenna or input so that a noise will be generatedat the loudspeaker thereof. This may well be interpreted by the vieweras the sound of a gunshot, althrough it is not precisely so, nor need itbe since a child viewer is most imaginative. In any event, the triggeraction produces a gunshot and the viewer imagines himself to be shootingthe villain. Moreover, the illusion is heightened by the radiationprocess. Thus, the electromagnetic radiation from the toy gun does not,of course, include synchronizing pulses, as does the radiation from thetransmitting station broadcasting the program. As a result, the picturetends to tear" and a distinct visual disturbance attributable to theshooting action of the toy gun is produced. Accordingly, both a visualand an auditory effect is produced by the toy gun.

My invention will be further understood from the following descriptionand the drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side view in elevation of a toy gun embodying myinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a front view thereof; and

FIGURE 3 is a circuit diagram thereof;

FIGURE 4 is a modification.

Referring first to the circuit diagram, the device comprises aconventional form of electric buzzer having a spring loaded armature 10,an electromagnetic coil 11,

and contact 12, the armature, of course, breaking the circuit whenattracted by the coil 11. The device is powered by battery 14, which maybe six volts for example. Specifically I employ four 1 /2 volt Penlitebatteries in the handle of the gun as hereinafter described.

Coil 11 is connected in series to the primary 15 of a step-uptransformer 16, so as to produce the circuit-breaking action.Transformer 16 is a conventional ignition coil as found in modelairplane or other small internal combustion engine sets. As is wellknown, the output voltage from secondary 17 is hundreds of volts, oreven thousands of volts like in the ordinary ignition system of anautomobile, although much lower voltage is required in my toy gun asshown hereinafter.

htates Pater-rt @thce 3,426,475 Patented Feb. 11, 1969 Across secondary17 I connect neon gas tube 18. This is a small gas discharge tube, forexample, an NE41 the two electrodes of which flash over at about volts.I also employ resistor 19 which may be about 100,000 ohms for limit-ingthe current.

The circuit operation is as follows:

When trigger 20 is pressed, the buzzer circuit is closed and theresulting current is passed through transformer 16 and stepped up toflash-over voltage. Neon tube 18 flashes over at 90 volts or so and itcontinues to flash at the repetition rate or vibration period of thebuzzer.

Neon tube 18 actually comprises a spark gap which radiateselectromagnetic waves. Inasmuch as the terminals of the neon tube flashover at the breakdown voltage of the tube, while the buzzer actionperiodically interrupts the voltage, steep waves are generated whichinclude high frequen y components as will be understood by those skilledin the art.

An antenna 21 is connected to an electrode of the gas tube. Neither thelength of the antenna nor its form is critical. I have found that alength of about 3 or 4 inches is satisfactory, although this mayobviously be increased, except that a longer, and more efiicient antennamay be objectionable as being too powerful a radiator and disturbing thereception of other sets. Of course, the toy gun antenna 21 may be ifdesired directly connected to to an input antenna terminal of thereceiver, although in general this is unnecessary. The antenna 21 isoriented as to radiate forwardly (and backwardly although this directionis unnecessary), so that the gun may be aimed by the user and theradiation will be directed principally along the longitudinal axis ofthe gun and toward the receiver. This not only increases the usefulsignal, but avoids interference with neighboring sets.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, the body of the toy gun comprises a handle 22wherein battery or batteries 14 are housed. Trigger 20 may be springloaded and is disposed in conventional position. Chamber 23 encloses thebuzzer circuit. Forward chamber 24 encloses the transformer or ignitioncoil 16 while the cover portion 25 houses the neon tube 18. Coverportion or cap 25 is preferably transparent plastic so that the flashingof the neon tube may be observed, adding to the entertainment value.Chamber 24 as well as portion 25, may be considered to be the barrel ofthe gun.

I also provide antenna 21 in coil or spiral form in a vertical plane,although this is not essential. Antenna 21 will, of course, radiate thegenerated electromagnetic waves. In this connection, somewhat betterresults are achieved if handle 22 is of metal since it, through theintermediary of the persons body, serves to provide a ground, the otherportions of the gun body also being principally of metal, or at leastenough to provide electromagnetic conductivity between the antenna andthe handle.

As described above, when the gun is pointed at a character on thetelevision receiver tube, and the trigger 20 depressed, a noise willemanate from the loudspeaker of the television receiver, while thepicture itself will be disturbed, and the user will imagine himself tobe shooting the character.

It will be recognized that the gas tube transmission system isparticularly suitable for radiating electromagnetic waves suitable fortelevision reception since sharp or steep wave forms are generated sothat high frequencies are components thereof and are radiated. Ofcourse, suchhigh frequencies are in the television range, i.e. over 50megacycles. The buzzer vibration rate is of no particular importance, 2.conventional doorbell buzzer being satisfactory. My system inherentlyproduces frequency varying radiation by virtue of lack of precision inthe inexpensive components and this adds to the desired response of thetelevision receiver.

I have shown a preferred embodiment of the invention,

but it is obvious that numerous changes including oniissions may be madewithout departing from its spirit. For example, should it be desired toconfine the radiation 5 to one television receiver, while of coursestrengthening the signal, a wire 26 may directly connect the antenna 21to the antenna or an input antenna terminal of a television receiver 27.

What is claimed is: 1. A toy gun having a body, a handle for said body,a manually operable trigger adjacent said handle, a barrel on said body,a radiating means on said body, and generating means in said body forgenerating electromagnetic waves when said trigger is operated, saidradiating means comprises an antenna, said generated electromagneticwaves being of such steep wave form as to include high frequencycomponents which fall within the television frequency range of 50megacycles and over.

2. A toy gun according to claim 1 and wherein said generating meanscomprises a buzzer within said body, electric power operating means forsaid buzzer, a step-up transformer connected to said buzzer, a pair offlashing electrodes connected to said transformer, and said antennabeing connected to one of said electrodes.

3. A toy gun according to claim 1 and wherein said 'body is elongated,said antenna being oriented thereon References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT F. CUTTING, Assistant Examiner.

US. or. X.R.

12/1966 Nicholas et a1. 46-22'/ X

